News
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
NA wants all-out govt support to army in war on terrorISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a unanimous resolution condemning the attack on the army officers and calling on the government to support the army in the war on terror.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk
The National Assembly expressed its deep sympathies for the bereaved families. The resolution, which was moved by minister of state for parliamentary affairs, stated, “This House strongly condemns the attack on Major Gen Sanaullah Niazi, Lt Col Tauseef and Lance Naik Irfan Sattar, soldiers Yasir and Ghaffar, Baloch Regiment of Pakistan Army. Expressing deep sympathies for the grieved families, this House salutes the bravery and courage of Pakistan’s armed forces and vows to back them in their efforts to protect the country. This House calls upon the government to recognise their sacrifices and to come out in full support of the armed forces in the fight against terrorism.”
Legislators introduced five bills in the House and asked the government to ensure elimination of terrorism, abolish the system of mark-up and take steps to pull the Pakistan Steel Mills out of crisis. The legislators of Pakistan People’s Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) introduced the bills. One of these bills was “The HIV/AIDs (Safety and Control) Bill 2013,” introduced by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. She said there is an increasing need to create awareness among the masses about this killer disease and take appropriate measures to control its spread.
SA Iqbal Qadri introduced “The National Database and Registration Authority (Amendment) Bill 2013”. The bills notes that it is common practice that public and private organisations require the photocopy of CNIC with or without certain other documents as a proof of identity. The copies are ultimately misused for various criminal or illegal activities. It states that the main purpose is served as and when the original card is produced. The practice of demanding/producing copy of CNIC should be stopped and exclusive use of original CNIC should be encouraged.
“The Publication of the Holy Quran (Elimination of Printing and Recording Errors) (Amendment) Bill 2013,” was moved by Major (r) Tahir Iqbal. It states that it is vital to introduce a bill to ensure error-free publication of the holy Quran on fine quality paper and proper publication of the holy book and its verses. Another bill, “The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Bill 2013”, was moved by SA Iqbal Qadri. Dr Nafisa Shah presented “The Political Parties Order (Amendment) Bill 2013”. It seeks to protect and strengthen representation in the political and legislative process.
The Lower House was informed that no employee of the Pakistan International Airlines will be removed during the privatisation of its 26 percent shares. “I say categorically that the government has no plans to offload the PIA employees in the proposed process of privatisation of 26 percent shares of the utility,” Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Sheikh told the House in response to a calling attention notice. He said the airline had 19,400 employees and the government will not only secure their jobs but they will continue to possess 12 percent shares of the airline.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said the government would not hide anything from the nation about the loan agreement with the International Monitoring Fund (IMF). Discussing a motion about the situation arising out of the agreement with the IMF to get loan of $5.3 billion, the minister said, in fact nothing is hidden as debate about the agreement was going on in media. He said every member of the House would be informed about the agreement with IMF.
Aftab Sheikh also said that the government would break the begging bowl and would eventually free itself of the financial arrangements with IMF. Winding up the debate, he informed the House that the finance minister will take the House into confidence on matters with IMF. He said after the first hundred days of government, the prime minister’s vision has come clear before the nation. agencies